Raids in North Carolina Net More Deaf Mexican Workers

In what may be a link to the New York City case of the smuggling and exploitation of deaf Mexican workers, U.S. immigration officials Friday raided two houses in North Carolina where immigrants have similarly been forced into selling trinkets.

Meanwhile, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said Friday that his office is exploring the possibility of charging real estate brokers and the landlords of the two Queens houses in which the 58 deaf immigrants were crammed with criminal facilitation charges.

In the raids Friday at two houses in Sanford, N.C., authorities found 17 Mexican immigrants of whom 15 are deaf, the Justice Department said.

Carole Florman, a department spokeswoman, said that the peddling ring may be “possibly” connected with the group found in New York. “That is still being explored,” she said.

“There is some indication these individuals were being controlled, but to what extent we won’t know until” the interviews are completed, said a source familiar with the investigation.

Of the 17 found, only an infant child, born in the United States, has been determined to be a U.S. citizen, Florman said. The group consists of 14 adults, all of whom are deaf.

So far, no charges have been filed, according to U.S. Attorney Walter Holton Jr. in Greensboro, N.C. He said that the immigrants “expressed relief” at being found by the authorities.

The raids came as a result of tips provided by Mexican consulate offices nationwide. Immigration and Naturalization Service officials said Friday they were also interviewing a group of 11 deaf Mexican nationals in Chicago. It is not clear if there is any connection to the New York group, officials said.

However, the immigrants have indicated in preliminary interviews that they were not abused, consulate officials said.

Neighbors of the two North Carolina houses where the raids occurred said there were no signs that the immigrants had been abused.

“They seemed like they were happy-go-lucky,” said Ron Goings, who works at an auto parts store in Sanford.

Sanford Mayor Winston Hester said he thought they may have been renting the house for about five years.